Folding stool



L A. CALL FOLDING STOOL May 3, 1932.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 20. 1930 1932- L. A. CALL 1,856,805

FOLDING STOOL Filed March 20. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED STATES LESTER A. CALL, OF CLINTON, MASSACHUSETTS FOLDING- STOOL Application filed March 20, 1930. Serial in. 437,531.

This invention relates to a seat or stool made up of folding parts which can be reduced to small compass for storage and transportation and easily set up for use. 7

5 The principal objects of the lnvention are to provide a convenient form of folding seat which can be spread out by a single motion and will come to a limiting position in which it will serve the purpose of a: seat fully and .10 can be folded up into small compass and removed from the single leg which supports it; to'provide a convenient means for attachably mounting the seat on the leg; to provlde a simple form of telescoping leg which, when 15 expanded, will come automatically to a con dition in which the leg cannot be telescoped by the weight of a person on the seat above and yet, by simple manipulation, can be telescoped to occupy a small space; to provide an 2. improved form of base or foot which also can be detached from the leg and disassembled to occupy a small space whentaken to pieces; and to provide a connection between the foot and the leg which will permitof a rocking motion or rather an adjustment back and forth to ease the position of theuser.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying .33 drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a stool constructed in accordance with this invention and shown in position for use;

Fig. 2- is an enlarged sectional view on the Fig. 3 is a plan of the seat shown in folded position; I r

Fig. 4 is an edge view thereof; Fig. 5 is a plan of the seat shown in expanded position;

. Fig. 6 is an edge view of two of the leaves of the seat showing how they overlap at their ends to enable them to be expanded easily; N Fig. 7 is a plan of the base or foot of the device;

Fig. 8is a side view of the same;

, Fig. '9 is a sectional View of the bottom of the stool showing the base and the leg, and illustrating the movements which the leg can have relative to the base, and t Fig. 10 is a side view of the leg in folded position.

I have shown the device as supported by a base consisting of a plurality .of feet 10. They are illustrated as put together so that two of them extend in opposite directions and the other at 90 degrees thereto and half way between them. Each foot consists of a flat base of considerable area and an upright 11 which is of substantially conical form, and these three uprights are designed to fit together to constitute a complete cone-like structure. They all have teeth 12 for the purpose of fitting them together. When to gether they can be considered as one piece, as these teeth prevent them having any relative motion when fastened together. They are secured in, position by a bolt 13 extending up through the center of this'upright composed of the three pieces. This bolt is provided with a head 14.- of any desiredcharacter and the bottom of the base is grooved or recessed to receive it so that the whole bottom of the base will be flat. At the top the bolt is held by a thu1nb-nut15 adapted toscrew down on a concave washer -16at the top of this base. The base can be assembled very readily and the parts can be packed in small'compass and transported readily, as they take up very little room. 7

Through two of the adjacent uprights 11 is a passage for a pivot stud 18 which extends through both of them and through the bottom member 20 of the telescoping leg. The object is to provide a connection between the leg and the base and also to provide for the possibility of pivotal motion,-whereby the leg can be moved to different positions, as indicated in full and dotted lines in Fig. 9, so that the user can change his position on the stool at will to relieve his muscles after sitting too long in one position. Of course,'it permits a rocking motion also.

Therest of the telescopingleg is made up of one or more additional parts 21 and 22. I prefer to make these parts all of square metal tubing. Each part at the top is provided with a pair of elongated slots 23 exactly opposite each other. Each one at the'bottom'is provided with a filler piece having a Ice WVhen once out of the slots,

passage across it in which is located a spring 24 and two heads 25, each having a convex projection 26 extending from it. When the parts are in folded condition located within the bottom part 20 they can be expanded by pulling them apart until the pins 26 enter the slots 23. The springs will force them outwardly to hold them there.

It will be noted that the convex projections 26 have a portion 27' which is substantially cylindrical and of substantially the thickness of the metal of the leg so that, when expanded as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, they form a positive stop and do not'permit theparts to be collapsed by pressure from above. In order to telescope the parts together and allow for the contraction of the leg, it is necessary to press on the two projections 26 until the cylindrical part 27 is entirely inside the wall of the next outside section below. Then the rounded ends engage the edges of the slots in the next leg section to assist in pushing them back into place as the two adjacent sections of the leg are pushed together. of course, they will remain in contracted position.

I have shown three of these sections and in ordinary use three would be used, but if desired, of course, either two can be contracted and then the height of the stool would be only two-thirds approximately the amount shown in Fig. 1. At the top of the upper section 22there is provided a block 28 secured to it inside and having a projecting tongue 29 at a convenient angle.

The seat is composed of a piece 30 of sheet metal of a general channel form, that is, havingflanges along its two sides underneath. This has a socket 31 of sheet metal secured to it on the bottom and preferably open at both ends with a passage through it extending transversely. One of the flanges is cut .out to allow the tongue 29 to enter the socket, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Thisholds the seat detachably on the leg.

On the top of this plate 30 are two pivot studs 32 of any desired character and a series of-metal leaves 33 arepivoted to each one. These leaves are all of the samelength and they are made of sheet metal preferably or anyother desired material. NVhen spread apart they form a quadrant on each side.

-Eachleaf is provided with two projections 34 and 35, located at opposite sides. The proj ection 34 is bent down and the projection 35 is. either horizontal or bent upwardly. There is also a projection 36 in the plate 30 at each end.- One of the projections 34 engages that as the leaves are swung apart about their pivots. The next projection 34 on the next leaf engages the projection 35 on the ffirst leaf as shown in Fig. 5.

tion shown in Fig. 5,

It will be seen therefore that these leaves can be spread apart very readily to the posiand automatically be stopped at the proper place. Also these projections all clear each other when the device is folded up to the position shown in Fig. 3. This constitutes the seat of the stool and it will be seen that it is a collapsible one and that the two halves come together so that there is no space between them when it is expanded. I

The whole device is capable of being folded up into three comparatively small packages and can be carried around and used by artists or spectators at games and the like. It is especially adapted for out-door use and is easy to puttogethe'r and take apart. It does not involve any parts likely to be injured in use and is of strong durable construction.-

Although I have illustrated and described am only a single form of the invention I aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing fromthe scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to the exact form shown, but what I do claim is I 1. As an article of manufacture, a foldingfiat supporting seat comprising a stationary plate, a pair of pivot studs carried by said plate near the center of one edge, two series of leaves each pivotally mounted on one-of said studs, said leaves being adapted to be spread out into the form of two quadrants, the last leaves of the two series coming substantially into'contact with each other.

2. Ina stool, the combination with a telescoping leg having a block secured in the top of the upper section thereof and a tongue projecting from said block at aninclination, of a plate having a socket on the bottom thereof receiving said tongue, whereby the plate can be placed on the tongue and supported by the leg, and a series of leaves pivoted on the plate and adapted to be turned outwardly at different angles, for the purpose described.

3. In a folding stool or the like, the combination with a telescoping leg consisting of a plurality of sections of square metal tubing, and a pin extending across the bottom section inside, of a base comprising a plurality of feet having an upright extending therefrom into. the bottom section through which said in extends and on which the bottom section of the leg is therefore pivotally mounted, said bottom section being of larger cross sectional area at the bottom than said upright to perunit a certain amount of play. I

l. In a folding stool or the like, the combination with a telescoping leg, of a base consisting. of a plurality of feet extending in different directions, all separate from each other, each foot having an upright portion at the end, the several upright portions having exterior surfaces to form a conical upright, means for connecting said upright with the leg for supporting it and means for holding the parts of the upright together.

5. As an article of manufacture, a base for an article of furniture comprising a plurality of feet, each having an upright portion, said upright portions having inner faces of interfitting configuration, a bolt passing centrally and vertically between the upright portions having a head on the bottom, a Washer covering the top of the upright and of concave form to hold the several portions together and a nut on the bolt for holding the Whole base in rigid condition.

6. As an article of manufacture, a base for an article of furniture comprising a plurality of feet adapted to extend in different directions, each having an upright portion, said upright portions having grooves on their upright portions fitting each other, whereby the several upright portions can be fitted accurately together and having exterior curved surfaces to furnish a conical upright, a bolt passing centrally and vertically through the assembled groove, a head on the bolt at the bottom, said upright having a recess for receiving the head, a Washer covering the top of the upright and of concave form to hold the several portions together and a nut on the bolt at the top for engaging the Washer and holding the Whole base in rigid condition.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

LESTER A. CALL. 

